KAMPALA, Friday, June 28, 2013 – The innovative Uganda Content Portal has won Best Digital Content Award at the Uganda Communications Commission’s 2013 Annual Communications Innovations Awards (ACIA). The Awards recognize and promote innovative approaches within the communications sector, particularly those that lead to lasting transformation in society.

Ugandan Minister of Information, Communication and Technology, Eng. John Nasasira, presided over this year’s high-profile event at the Kampala Serena Hotel, where the UNICEF-inspired Content Portal was recognized for contributing to ICT for national development. The platform is freely accessible on UNICEF-installed digital drums and kiosks at various youth centres in Uganda.

“The Uganda Content Portal is a multi-media source of information that bridges the digital divide between those who have access to the Internet and those who do not “, said Dr Sharad Sapra, UNICEF Representative in Uganda.

Basil Tushabe, Executive Director of Communication for Development Foundation of Uganda (CDFU), received the award on behalf of the partners who contribute some of content uploaded onto the Content Portal.

The innovative information platform has got documents, educational videos, images, audio clips and games on various topics like health, education, livelihoods, culture, news, rights, and safety. It features most indigenous Ugandan languages as well as English, French and Swahili. It can be accessed on the Internet at “content.unicefuganda.org.

In partnership with Battery Operated Systems for Community Outreach Uganda (BOSCO-U) , Arbeiter Samaiter Bund (ASB) , War Child, the Church of Uganda, the Uganda Catholic Secretariat and the Muslim Supreme Council , UNICEF has put the off line version of the Content portal on computers which have been installed at 36 youth centres in Northern, North East and Western Uganda. UNICEF plans to install more digital kiosks at more youth centres by the end of 2013.